We get asked constantly. Which weapon light is the right one for me? Well, that depends on you and your needs more than anything. There are just as many makers as there are opinions. We are at this time, not sponsored by nor compensated in any way to endorse any company's product so what you will read will be 100% based on experience and actual usage. Weapon lights come in every imaginable shape, size and configuration. You are just as sure to hear as much snobbery over lights as you are the weapons they go on, caliber and every other thing. Bottom line - you have to be honest with yourself. Be willing to admit your weaknesses and buy the right tool to enhance your capabilities and not just up your "cool factor". If you spent $500 on the latest super-rig because people look at it with envy on the range, you are screwing yourself. How is that light going to help you in the middle if the night when you get up to respond to the noise that terrified your family?Weapon lights. Which one and why.

We get asked constantly. Which weapon light is the right one for me? Well, that depends on you and your needs more than anything. There are just as many makers as there are opinions. We are at this time, not sponsored by nor compensated in any way to endorse any company's product so what you will read will be 100% based on experience and actual usage.
Weapon lights come in every imaginable shape, size and configuration. You are just as sure to hear as much snobbery over lights as you are the weapons they go on, caliber and every other thing. Bottom line - you have to be honest with yourself. Be willing to admit your weaknesses and buy the right tool to enhance your capabilities and not just up your "cool factor". If you spent $500 (or more) on the latest super-rig because people look at it with envy on the range, you are screwing yourself. How is that light going to help you in the middle if the night when you get up to respond to the noise that terrified your family?

Here are some things to consider: Most makers offer a wide range of "lumen" selection. Now, lumens are subjective. What is 200lm from one maker may only amount to 100 in another or be more like 350 to yet another. Best thing really is to ask your sales rep to let you TRY it. Any good sales place should have a demo model to let you see the actual output. Remembering that when you rise from being deeply asleep, your eyes have not had sufficient time to adjust to current light conditions. What you are looking for as an average user is a healthy balance. The 150lm to 300lm range is usually more than sufficient. The phenomena of "bounce back" is where your emitted light reflects back off of your white walls or other surfaces in your home and does just as much damage to your night vision as the intruder's. No bueno. Being able to positively ID a threat without cooking him via white light output is your end goal.
Mounting hardware. How does the light attach to your weapon? Will it easily switch between rifle/pistol? Are you looking for a dedicated, weapon-specific platform? Are you on a budget and need one light to go back and forth with? All points that need to be decided before you buy. The simple act of being honest with yourself will not only save you money, but guarantee that when that moment comes...you're properly equipped to meet the threat head on. Are tools needed? Is the mount solid and free of wiggle? Tape switches or otherwise remote activation? How does the switch feel? Is it located comfortably? Ergonomics play a critical role in weapon manipulation, especially in high stress scenarios.
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Batteries! Good Lord, the nightmare of batteries. We all love the high-powered lights, but damn...do they ever eat those CR123's. And considering that they typically run around $30/dozen IF you can find them...it might be worth considering another option. There are options out there that run on more widely available batteries is again money is not pouring out of a fountain for you. Sometimes, the most expensive is not always the best option. Don't rule out the good old handheld light. They still have their place. From the prepper's perspective, you may only be trying to stock one or two types of batteries. It may simply not be conducive to try and become Battery Central. Point to consider in your long term planning.

LED vs. conventional? Frankly? LED all the way, IMO. Better light quality. Significantly longer battery life. Better beam projection. Simply superior in every way. The problem of older type bulbs simply put: They FAIL. At the WORST possible moment. And they are usually not cheap to replace on reputable light systems. Models with any respectable output might be near as expensive to buy a new bulb as to simply buy a lesser expensive light from a different maker. "Throw" refers to how far a light will project it's beam from the bezel. Are you looking more for a flood beam or a spot beam? Is infrared something you are looking for? Some lights are also equipped with aiming lasers. Some people would shun this. I'm not one of them. Not everyone in the world just retired from DEVGRU and has hundreds of hours in complex low/no light weapons training. ANY advantage that can guarantee you are landing ordnance on your ID'd threat and not an innocent...is INSURANCE. Both morally and legally. There is an inherent value to a laser in certain situations. Is it going to invite an involuntary bowel evacuation from your attacker? Likely not. Be he/she for DAMNED sure is going to think twice.
Think about it. The most elite, highly skilled operators in the world still use aiming lasers. Point taken? Remember that as always, here at Crisis Application Group we can CUSTOM TAILOR courses to meet your individual needs. Not every question can be addressed via internet blog. Not every gunfight can be easily dissected and explained away at a keyboard. You have to invest the mental sweat equity to TRAIN your BRAIN to be ready for the threat. Gear HELPS. But it does not solve everything. The Warrior Mind is what must be developed in order to achieve victory. We can and will help you with that.
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